William t



W. T. BENHAM.

TUMBLER FOR PERMUTA'HON LOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1916.

l 1 93,754, Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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TUNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM T. BENI-IAM, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NYDIA BANK LOCK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUIVIBLER FOR PERMITTATION-LOCKS.

Application filed March 27, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM T. BENHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tumblers for Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to permutation locks and particularly to the tumblers used therein; the object being to improve and simplify the tumbler and its adjuncts and promote the eiiiciency of the tumbler system.

To these ends, the improvement consists in the provision and adaptation of means, in a tumbler embodying a rotating central disk within an outer annulus, for locking the two parts against rotation positively when in position for use, and at the same time and by the same means forming a guard over the angle bar slot of the tumbler to prevent entrance of the angle bar into the slot when the central and outer members of the tunibler are rotatively disengaged.

It consists also in the application to the disk-tumbler of unit and multiple markings both ways from a zero point, as upon a dial, whereby the tumblers may be quickly and accurately set either by key or by hand and any error in the setting be at once located and corrected without the, necessity of a tedious reworking of the entire combination to ascertain where the error lies.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are face views of the tumbler detached, with the covering cap removed, showing the locking levers in disengaged and engaged positions, respectively, with the toothed central disk; Fig. 3 is a diametric cross section of the tumbler showing the constructive relation of the central toothed disk and outer elements. Fig. L is a general side elevation of the tumbler system showing their position and relation. Fig. 5 is a face view of the tumbler complete, showing the indicating unit and multiple markings.

Referring now to the drawings herewith, the tumbler system and the general construction of the tumblers, except as hereinafter described, is similar to that shown in my application, Serial No. 65115, filed Dec. i, 1915, now pending. The main features Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 87,080.

are a so-called rosette, R, the axially extended stump, 1', and a series of tumblers A arranged contiguously upon the stump, with spacing washers P provided with lugs, 79, as in said former application, and as herein shown in Fig. t.

My improvements in the present instance relate to the mechanism contained in the tumble-r A. and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and the system of markings shown in Fig. 5.

Applied in a tumbler embodying a central toothed disk B, andan outer concentric casing consisting of annular cup-shaped members a and (L as shown in Fig. 3, I employ two lever-clamps, C C pivotally secured at 0 6 respectively to the inner a of the two casing members, having terminals at one end spaced apart for actuation by a key-cam D, pivotally secured in said casing member between said terminals; and, at proper distance beyond the pivots, c 0 respectively, furnished with toothed portions, 0 0 adapted to engage the teeth of the central disk when forced into contact therewith by the action of the key-cam D, forcing apart the contiguous lever-clamp terminals, giving an unyielding lock against inter-rotation. The lever-clamps are provided with springs, s, acting in opposition to the key-cam, and tending to hold the said clamps disengaged from the toothed disk.

One of the lever-clamps, as C is extended beyond its toothed portion, 0 as an arm, 0 terminating in a head, 0. The arm eX- tends beyond the peripheral opening 0 in which the angle bar cl ordinarily rests, and when the opposite terminals of the lever-clamps are nearest together, the arm, 0 is moved upward and its head, 0, lifts and holds the angle bar out of engagement for the time being.

The key-cam D is a shallow cylinder reduced at opposite sides to formparallel plane walls; so that, when in position with said plane sides contacting with the ends of the lever-clamps, the latter are relatively close together; and, by a quarter turn of the cam in either direction, bringing the opposite curved walls into contact with said terminals, the latter are forced apart at the same time forcing the toothed portions into engagement with the central disk B, thus holding the parts of the tumbler positively against inter-rotation. This movement also older constructions sometimes happens through carelessness or forgetfulness of the operator.

The present improvement also involves a plurality of similiarly constructed and interchangeable tumblers, and by the system of unit and group markings shown, the exact setting of each tumbler in the series is always indicated. The numbering proceeds from a designated starting point, in both ways to the highest number which is diametrically opposite. These markings indicate units, with groups of 5 from zero to 50, and are preferably on the face of the casingelement a or a (one or both); and, upon the corresponding face of the inner disk B is a single mark, Z). I am not aware that this feature of marking theparts of a tumbler has ever been applied to a key changing tumbler lock; but its usefulness is great.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a permutation lock, a tumbler having a central disk and a rotatable annular casing, a clamping element upon the annular casing adapted to engage or disengage the central disk, an extension arm of the clamping element crossing beneath the engaging slot of the angle bar in the annular casing in such relation as that the movement of the clamping element to its disengaged position lifts and disengages the angle bar from its said slot.

2. In a permutation lock of the character indicated, embodying a central disk seated rotatively in an outer annular casing; a lever clamp pivoted in the casing and adapted to engage the disk against inter-rotation; a

key-controlled cam actuating said leverclamp to its position of engagement; a spring actuating said lever-clamp to its position of disengagement and an extension arm of said lever clamp adapted to lift and hold the angle bar disconnected from the tumblers while said disk and easing are disengaged. v

8. In a permutation lock of the character indicated, a tumbler having a central peripherally toothed disk, an outer annular casing rotatable upon said inner disk one or more adjustable clamps seated in the outer casing engaging the teeth of the central disk, a series of graduations in the outer face of the annular casing corresponding with the teeth of the disk, representing unit fractions of inter-rotation, and a mark upon the corresponding face of the disk indicating a starting point for the rotation of the casing.

4:. In a permutation lock of the character indicated, a tumbler having a central pcripherally toothed disk, an outer annular casing rotatable upon said inner disk, one or more adjustable clamps seated in the outer casing engaging the teeth of the central disk, a series of graduations in the outer face of the annular casing corresponding with the teeth of the disk, representing unit fractions of interrotation, said graduations being numbered around half of the circle each way from a common starting point, and a key adapted to release the clamps from engagement, whereby any error of setting may be counted by sight and corrected in the individual tumbler without changingthe correctly set tumblers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. BENHAM. Witnesses:

LEWIS M. HOSEA, WALTER A. KNIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

